Computer connected to a smear preparing apparatus

Abstract

A computer for receiving first and second sample attribute information regarding attributes of a sample, for determining parameter identification information for identifying a smear control parameter on the basis of the first sample attribute information, for generating first and second instruction to make a smear preparing apparatus prepare a smear of a sample, the first instruction including the parameter identification information, and the second instruction including the second sample attribute information, for transmitting the first and second instruction to the smear preparing apparatus is disclosed.

1. A computer connected to a blood analyzer configured for analyzing a blood sample and outputting an analysis result to the computer and a smear preparing apparatus configured for preparing a smear of a blood sample on a slide glass based on a smear control parameter, the computer comprising:
 a communicator configured for communicating with the blood analyzer and the smear preparing apparatus; 
 a condition setter configured for setting a smear level value for identifying the smear control parameter and a value range of a count of a first blood cell, the smear level value corresponding to the value range and to the smear control parameter; 
 a memory; and 
 a controller programmed to carry out operations comprising:
 receiving a setting of the smear level value and the value range by the condition setter; 
 storing the received smear level value and the received value range in correspondence with each other in the memory; 
 receiving, from the blood analyzer via the communicator, an analysis result comprising a count of the first blood cell and a hematocrit value of the blood sample, wherein the count of the first blood cell of the blood sample is at least one of a white or red blood cell count; 
 generating, when the count of the first blood cell of the blood sample is within the value range stored in the memory, a first instruction that causes the smear preparing apparatus to prepare a smear of the blood sample according to a first smear control parameter corresponding to the smear level value, the first instruction comprising the smear level value stored in the memory; 
 transmitting, when the first instruction has been generated, the first instruction to the smear preparing apparatus via the communicator; 
 generating, when the count of the first blood cell of the sample is not within the value range stored in the memory, a second instruction that causes the smear preparing apparatus to prepare a smear of the blood sample according to a second smear control parameter corresponding to the hematocrit value of the blood sample, the second instruction comprising the hematocrit value of the blood sample; and 
 transmitting, when the second instruction has been generated, the second instruction to the smear preparing apparatus via the communicator; 
 
 wherein the computer and the smear preparing apparatus are disposed at different locations, and 
 wherein the smear preparing apparatus is configured to:
 determine, when the first instruction is received, the first smear control parameter corresponding to the received smear level value and prepare a smear of the blood sample based on the first smear control parameter; and 
 determine, when the second instruction is received, the second smear control parameter corresponding to the received hematocrit value and prepare a smear of the blood sample based on the second smear control parameter. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The computer of  claim 1 , wherein the first instruction further comprises the hematocrit value of the blood sample. 
     
     
       3. The computer of  claim 1 , further comprising a display, wherein the operations further comprise:
 displaying on the display a setting screen for receiving the setting of the smear level value and the corresponding value range. 
 
     
     
       4. The computer of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise storing the smear level value included in the first instruction transmitted via the communicator in the memory. 
     
     
       5. The computer of  claim 1 , wherein the condition setter comprises an upper limit value setter for setting an upper limit value of the value range and a lower limit value setter for setting a lower limit value of the value range. 
     
     
       6. The computer of  claim 1 , wherein the operation further comprises determining whether or not the blood sample is necessary to be smeared based on the received analysis result of the blood sample. 
     
     
       7. The computer of  claim 1 , wherein the analysis result comprises a count of a second blood cell of the blood sample,
 the condition setter is configured for setting a second value range of the count of the second blood cell, 
 the storing is carried out by storing the smear level value, the value range, and the second value range set by the condition setter in correspondence with each other in the memory, and 
 the first instruction is generated when the count of the first blood cell of the blood sample is within the value range stored in the memory, and the count of the second blood cell of the blood sample is within the second value stored in the memory. 
 
     
     
       8. The computer of  claim 1 , wherein the analysis result comprises an abnormality message when the count of the first blood cell matches a predetermined condition,
 the condition setter is configured for setting a first abnormality message, 
 the storing is carried out by storing the smear level value, the value range, and the first abnormality message set by the condition setter in correspondence with each other in the memory, and 
 the first instruction is generated when the count of the first blood cell of the blood sample is within the value range stored in the memory, and analysis result comprises the abnormality message stored in the memory. 
 
     
     
       9. The computer of  claim 1 , wherein the memory further stores medical record information of a sample provider who provided the blood sample,
 the condition setter is configured for setting a first medical record information, 
 the storing is carried out by storing the smear level value, the value range, and the medical storing record information set by the condition setter in correspondence with each other in the memory, and 
 the first instruction is generated when the count of the first blood cell of the blood sample is within the value range stored in the memory, and the medical record information of a sample provider that provided the blood sample corresponds to the medical record information set by the condition setter. 
 
     
     
       10. The computer of  claim 1 , wherein the smearing apparatus comprises a memory storing the first smear control parameter correspondingly stored with the smear level value and the second smear control parameter correspondingly stored with the hematocrit value. 
     
     
       11. The computer of  claim 1 , wherein the memory comprises a plurality of smear level values and a smear level range and a smear control parameter corresponding to each smear level value in the plurality of smear level values. 
     
     
       12. The computer of  claim 11 , wherein when the count of the first blood cell of the blood sample is within multiple smear level ranges, the first instruction comprises the smear level value that is smallest among the smear level values corresponding to the multiple smear level ranges within which the count of the first blood cell is within. 
     
     
       13. The computer of  claim 11 , wherein the memory further comprises a priority identifier corresponding to each smear level, and when the count of the first blood cell of the blood sample is within multiple smear level ranges, the first instructions comprises the smear level value with the highest priority identifier among the smear level values corresponding to the multiple smear level ranges within which the count of the first blood cell is within.